Hot topping apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Hot topping slab application apparatus comprises a usually rectangular frame with one or more inflatable sachets which are inflated to urge hot top lining slabs to contact the mould or head box wall.

4/l973 Eccleston i. 164/339' Um-ted States Patent 1 [111 3,802,058 Eccleston et al. Apr. 9, 1974 [54] HOT TOPPING APPARATUS AND METHOD 3.209.413 10/1965 Ednell [64/137 5 6t 1': i 3 [75] lnventors: Kenneth Thomas Eccleston; Peter H i223 i e Mccmlnori both of 3.092,:479 6/1963 Bauer 164/339 Birmingham, England 3,675,304 7/1972 Perri 164/339 [73] Assignee: Foseco International Limited,

Birmingham England Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Filed! J 7, 1972 Assistant Examiner-James R. Duzan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cushman, Darby & [2]] Appl. No.. 260,440 Cushman [30] Foreign Application Priority Data June i6, 197] Great Britain 28243/7l [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 29/428, 164/137, 164/339 [51] Int. Cl 1323p 11/00 l-lot topping slab application apparatus comprises a [58] Field of Search 164/137, 339; 52/749; usually rectangular frame with one or more inflatable 29/428 sachets which are inflated to urge hot top lining slabs to contact the mould or head box wall. [56] References Cited 7 p Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 9 am 3;802 .058

I sum 1 0F 3 FIG I FATENTEU APR 9 i974 SHEET 2 UP 3 1 HOT TOPPING APPARATUS AND METHOD .This invention relates to methods of, and apparatus for, hot'topping.

In casting molten metal to form ingots it is customary to line the top of the ingot mould or a head box on such a mould with a layer of heat-insulating refractory material. It is naturally desirable to effect such a lining operation, so called hot-topping, as rapidly and economically as possible. Manual methods are time consuming, laborious and subject to variations, and it is thus desirable to provide automatic hot topping. This is especially the case if the mould or head box to be lined is hot and thus difficult to work on.

According to a first feature of the invention there is provided hot topping apparatus comprising a frame carrying on its periphery one or more inflatable sachets, the overall outer shape being similar to, but of smaller size than, a mould or head box cavity to be lined, and means for locating slabs of refractory heatinsulating material adjacent the or each sachet. When the apparatus is placed in a mould or head box and slabs of refractory heat-insulating material are so located, the slabs can be pressed outwardly against the mould or head box wall by inflation of the sachet or sachets.

The frame is most commonly rectangular in section. Preferably the apparatus comprises a plurality of separate sachets, each of which corresponds to a sidewall of a mould or head box. Preferably, the sachets are protected by an abrasion resistant sheet, e.g., sachets of rubber or neoprene, Heat-resistant types of these material are preferred.

The apparatus preferably includes one or more straps extending over the outer face of each sachet, the straps being resiliently urged inwardly to assist in deflation of the sachet and also carrying the means for locating the slabs of refractory heat-insulating material. Deflation of the sachet may be aided by using a protective overall sheet of elastic material such as rubber or neoprene.

The apparatus also preferably includes tapered guide members located below the frame and serving by their taper to guide the apparatus centrally into the mould or head box to be lined when the apparatus is lowered, e.g., by a crane. Each corner of the frame may also be provided with second guide members having downwardly and inwardly inclined lower faces to contact corners in the mould or head box, and so to locate the frame in the correct angular position.

Preferably both sets of guide members extend outwardly beyond the sachets when in their deflated condition to a distance greater than the thickness of a lining slab of refractory heat insulating material so that they act also to protect both the slab and sachets against contact with the top of a mould or head box as the frame is lowered into position. The slabs are preferably inflated by simple air pressure.

By way of example an ingot mould hot topping apparatus according to the present invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings. In order to simplify the drawings all hydraulic or pneumatic lines have been omitted and in certain drawings parts only of the apparatus are shown, other parts being omitted for the sake of clarity.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus,

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing in detail and partly in section one side only of the apparatus lowered into the top of a mould and with a slab of heat insulating material in position, and

FIG. 3 is a section of an enlarged scale along the lines 33 of FIG. 2,

The apparatus shown in the drawings is for lining an ingot mould or rectangular cross section and comprises a metal frame 10 carrying four plates 11 each forming, together with a flexible folded cover 12, attached peripherally to plate 11, an inflatable sachet.

The cover 12 is attached to the back plate 11 by strips 13 and is protected by an abrasion and heat resistant flexible sheet 14 which extends over the front face of the inflatable sachet and is attached to the rear face of the plate 11. The flexible sheet 14 may be of an elastic material such as neoprene or rubber.

Each sachet is crossed by two strap assemblies 16, each assembly comprising a strap 17 carrying spacers 18 mounted on rods 19. The rods 19 extend through bushes 20 mounted on the frame 10 and the straps 17 are urged to deflate the sachet 12 by means of springs 21 which extend between an abutment 22 on the rod 19 and the rear face of the bushes 20. The spacers 18 act to limit the inward movement. of the straps 17 by abutting against the front face of the bushes 20. A

Each strap 17 also carries a pin 24 adapted to receive a heat insulating slab 25.

The bottom face of the frame 10 is provided with a tapered guide member 26 and four secondary guide members 27 are located at the corners of the frame.

The guide members 27 are rods mounted on the frame 10 and extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom to provide a guide face 28. In use, guide members 27 contact the corners of the ingot mould.

For use, the apparatus is suspended on the hook 30 of a hoist 31, through flexible tie members such as chains 32.

The hoist is mounted on a roller carriage 35 which is powered to traverse a track 33. Track 33 is mounted on a swivel post 34 which permits free swinging of the track in a horizontal plane. The combination of the swivel post 34, track 33 and the free suspension of the apparatus through the ties 32 provides considerable freedom of movement for the apparatus, which assists in aligning it in an ingot mould.

In use, with the sachets deflated, four slabs 25 are placed overthe pins 24 and the apparatus is then lowered into the mould or head box 38 when it will centre itself into the correct position, using, in turn, guides 26 and 27. The sachets are then inflated to press the slabs 25 outwardly against the mould wall, to which the slabs are then affixed by any suitable means, preferably by the use of adhesive already provided on the face of the slab which is to contact the wall. During inflation, springs 21 are compressed.

Although other means of affixing the slab may be used this apparatus is of particular use with such an adhesive fixture system since it provides an even pressure over the whole face of the slab and if the slabs are flexible they will conform to mould camber and any other departures from planarity in the mould wall. Adhesive fixture systems may vary from simple adhesive layers to complex deformable multilayer arrangements, e.g., using sealing mastics. Adherence may also be via one or more heat-vulcanisable rubber tapes.

After affixing the slabs, the pressure in the sachets is then removed and they are collapsed by the action of the springs 21. This also removes pins 24 from the slabs 25 so that the apparatus can be withdrawn from the mould.

In place of the pins 24, any other suitable locating means may be provided, for example at the base of the apparatus or elsewhere. Alternatively, clips on the slabs may locate on the frame to determine the depth to which the slabs may be inserted into the mould or head box. In such a case the frame carrying the sachets is first lowered into the mould or head box to be lined without the slabs in position and the slabs are then placed by hand into the annular space defined between the mould or head box wall and the sachets, after which the sachets are then expanded as described above.

Furthermore the springs 21 may be replaced by small double acting hydraulic or pneumatic piston cylinder devices, which may be connected to the same pressure source as the sachets. This has the advantage that when it is desired to expand the sachets, air may be admitted to the cylinders to assist in moving the straps 17 outwardly, and when it is desired to deflate the sachets, air is applied to the othere side of the pistons so that they act in the same manner as the spring 21 to assist in deflating the sachets.

We claim:

1. In hot topping apparatus comprising a frame, the improvement comprising at least one inflatable sachet on the periphery of the frame, the overall outer shape of the frame being similar to, but of smaller size, than, mould and head box cavities to be lined, means for cating slabs of refractory heat-insulating material adjacent the sachet and at least one strap extending over the outer face of each sachet, the strap being resiliently urged inwardly to assist in deflation of the sachet and also carrying the means for locating the slabs of refractory heat insulating material.

2, Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the frame is rectangular in section.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 and including a plurality of separate sachets, each of which corresponds to a sidewall of a mould or head box.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sachet is protected by an abrasion resistant sheet.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 and including tapered guide members located below the frame and serving by their taper to guide the apparatus centrally into moulds and head boxes to be lines when the apparatus is lowered.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each corner of the frame is provided with second guide members having downwardly and inwardly inclined lower faces to contact corners in moulds and head boxes, and so to locate the frame in the correct angular position.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein both sets of guide members extend outwardly beyond the sachets when in their deflated condition to a distance greater than the thickness of a lining slab of refractory heat insulating material so that they act also to protect both the slab and sachets against contact with the top of moulds and head boxes as the frame is lowered into position. I

8. In the method of hot topping including the steps of locating a plurality of slabs of refractory heat insulating material on hot topping apparatus, the improvement which comprises locating the slabs on apparatus comprising a frame, at least one inflatable sachet on the periphery of the frame, the overall outer shape of the frame being similar to, but of smaller size than, mould and head box to be lined, means for locating slabs of refractory heat-insulating material adjacent the sachet and at least one strap extending over the outer face of each sachet, the strap being resiliently urged inwardly to assist in deflation of the sachet and also carrying the means for locating the slabs of refractory heat insulating material, lowering the apparatus into an ingot mould or head box, inflating the sachets to urge the slabs outwardly, fixing the slabs to the mould or head box wall, deflating the sachets and removing the apparatus from the mould. 

1. In hot topping apparatus comprising a frame, the improvement comprising at least one inflatable sachet on the periphery of the frame, the overall outer shape of the frame being similar to, but of smaller size, than, mould and head box cavities to be lined, means for locating slabs of refractory heat-insulating material adjacent the sachet and at least one strap extending over the outer face of each sachet, the strap being resiliently urged inwardly to assist in deflation of the sachet and also carrying the means for locating the slabs of refractory heat insulating material.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the frame is rectangular in section.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 and including a plurality of separate sachets, each of which corresponds to a sidewall of a mould or head box.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sachet is protected by an abrasion resistant sheet.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 and including tapered guide members located below the frame and serving by their taper to guide the apparatus centrally into moulds and head boxes to be lined when the apparatus is lowered.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each corner of the frame is provided with second guide members having downwardly and inwardly inclined lower faces to contact corners in moulds and head boxes, and so to locate the frame in the correct angular position.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein both sets of guide members extend outwardly beyond the sachets when in their deflated condition to a distance greater than the thickness of a lining slab of refractory heat insulating material so that they act also to protect both the slab and sachets against contact with the top of moulds and head boxes as the frame is lowered into position.
 8. In the method of hot topping including the steps of locating a plurality of slabs of refractory heat insulating material on hot topping apparatus, the improvement which comprises locating the slabs on apparatus comprising a frame, at least one inflatable sachet on the periphery of the frame, the overall outer shape of the frame being similar to, but of smaller size than, mould and head box cavities to be lined, means for locating slabs of refractory heat-insulating material adjacent the sachet and at least one strap extending over the outer face of each sachet, the strap being resiliently urged inwardly to assist in deflation of the sachet and also carrying the means for locating the slabs of refractory heat insulating material, lowering the apparatus into an ingot mould or head box, inflating the sachets to urge the slabs outwardly, fixing the slabs to the mould or head box wall, deflating the sachets and removing the apparatus from the mould. 